Macros, beauty beyond filtration

Seahorsekelly69 · Apr 18, 2016

Hi there! Wanted to share my 29g seahorse/macro tank :).
I've always used macroalgae such as chaeto for nutrient exportation in my reef. When I started my seahorse tank a few years ago, I knew I would need macro to survive the constant feedings. I had no idea that I would end up loving the macros as much as the seahorses!
I've managed to collect macro algae from all 3 groups, rhodophyta (red), chlorophyta (green) and phaeophyta (brown), and a truly beautiful tank has been created! I enjoy this tank as much, if not more than my reef.
Hope you enjoy!
(Very basic set up: 29g tank with attached sump containing an algae scrubber created by Ronald chinners. Finnex planted plus 24/7 lighting, with reserve light cycle on scrubber using 6500k bulbs. Weekly water changes, including trimming of any caulerpa or fast growing algae.

I only dose Seachem reef plus every few weeks. That's it!)

Salt Creep · Apr 18, 2016

Beautiful tank. Everything looks happy and healthy. What is that blueish algae on the center left? The top down looks almost like a SPS tank :)

Seahorsekelly69 · Apr 18, 2016

Hi salt creep! Thank you :)
Blue ochtodes are the deeper blue kind of all over, dictyota near the bottom, and blue scroll far left. Some fear dictyota, I know. But for over a year, it's stayed where I want it, and makes such a pretty, shimmery blue. I have many species considered "invasive". Luckily, they behave for me, likely due to all the other conpeting macros.

zoomonster · Apr 18, 2016

Very nice. Early on before full blown reef I used to keep a lot of plants and miss having them. Of course now my Tangs and Angels would plow through it like a weed eater. You ever have problems with any of that going asexual and polluting the tank? I know I had that to some degree with some like grape or feather caulerpa. I don't think chaeto does that but I run my fuge light 24x7 anyway.

Seahorsekelly69 · Apr 18, 2016

Dictyota

Seahorsekelly69 · Apr 18, 2016

Thanks!
I steer clear of caulerpa's for that exact reason. I've had 3 different types go sexual on me in different tanks :(.
The only caulerpa in this tank is teacup, and I watch it like a hawk. If I notice the water clouding or see the green fade into dots, I find the dying piece and pull quickly.
Trimming every week so it doesn't grow into areas with no light has helped.